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Having done the exact same leg the previous year I knew there was a source that seemed reputable up the hill. It was like a municipal water station, pump station of some sort.It is the right decision if you have another water supply. It is the wrong decision if you are risking dehydration. I would drink the rest of my bottle, fill it up, and dump it when I found another source.
Hi pilgrims,So day 1 I head out of Irun beginning my trek on the Norte. I started up a hill, it was taxing. Anyways, after about 4-5k I find myself at a pleasant church with a miraculous view, and I sit down at a bench for a deserved rest.
I pull out my water bottle and proceed to drink away. I also pulled out an orange and ate it.
After the orange was eaten, and 3/4 of my water was consumed, I walked to the fountain along the path in front of the church.
That’s when I saw an official looking sign that said, “…no es para consumir…” Yikes!
So I walk back to my spot on the bench and it’s obvious I’ve been watched. The Peregrino on the next bench over points to the fountain. I couldn’t understand exactly what he was saying.
Then, what I would describe as a “local” bike rider also pointed to the fountain. He said he drinks the water every day and it’s fine.
I was reticent. They could tell. The bike rider was kind though, and he insisted the water was good, “pero no tratrada”… he drinks it everyday!
So I listened politely and then left along the way.
I won’t drink from a fountain that says “no consumir” no matter what the locals say.
Is this the right or wrong decision?
OK, that is VERY good information and makes sense. I though it was really a high risk drinking of the signs are up. But if it is as you describe and the locals drink it, I would not hesitate at all.Hi pilgrims,
Ayuntamientos (Town Council) have the obligation of take care about all waters in their territory.
Small ayuntamientos don´t have money enough for control all fountains in their territory.
Tap water is analyzed every day, but other waters are not or they do controls in long time.
When they know water is not potable they put the sign.
If they only have suspictions, they put the sign too.
When they don´t treat a determinate fountains they put the sign.
This is the way Ayuntamientos elude civil demands.
At the end, tap water is the only with guaranties.
May be the local bike rider knew that water was potable for him.
Ultreia¡
That was the right decision. Local people grew up with that fountain and the people in that region are used to the organisms that live in the local natural water supplies. But your body is not. So, you were right to avoid drinking that water.So day 1 I head out of Irun beginning my trek on the Norte. I started up a hill, it was taxing. Anyways, after about 4-5k I find myself at a pleasant church with a miraculous view, and I sit down at a bench for a deserved rest.
I pull out my water bottle and proceed to drink away. I also pulled out an orange and ate it.
After the orange was eaten, and 3/4 of my water was consumed, I walked to the fountain along the path in front of the church.
That’s when I saw an official looking sign that said, “…no es para consumir…” Yikes!
So I walk back to my spot on the bench and it’s obvious I’ve been watched. The Peregrino on the next bench over points to the fountain. I couldn’t understand exactly what he was saying.
Then, what I would describe as a “local” bike rider also pointed to the fountain. He said he drinks the water every day and it’s fine.
I was reticent. They could tell. The bike rider was kind though, and he insisted the water was good, “pero no tratrada”… he drinks it everyday!
So I listened politely and then left along the way.
I won’t drink from a fountain that says “no consumir” no matter what the locals say.
Is this the right or wrong decision?
Yes!!!! That is why I didn’t drink it! Emphasis on “for him”!May be the local bike rider knew that water was potable for him.
I know I know but there are so many water sources on the Camino that are completely legit I think that a Peregrino just needs to learn to discriminate.Sawyer Squeeze - cheap, light, and it works.
Not intended to tell anyone I am on the Camino again. But I am on the Camino again nevertheless.So is this your way of telling us you are back on the camino AGAIN and walking the Norte? I’ve added a live prefix, in the hopes that you will tell us more!
Buen camino, @Damien Reynolds!
I have walked multiple Caminos and drank nothing but tap and fountain water while doing them. Untold litres of it. Never had any gastrointestinal problems. Spain is a first world country with modern water purification for its populace. The plastic bottled water may have had a placebo effect on you.In 2018 on the Francés, I started out drinking tap and fountain water. But was continually experiencing gastrointestinal problems. Finally decided it must be the water, so I switched to bottled only and all my discomfort cleared up. At home, I never buy bottled water, but desperate times ...
Well, we want to hear more!Not intended to tell anyone I am on the Camino again. But I am on the Camino again nevertheless.
More just like trying to share practical info for anyone who is interested.
Doesn’t apply to random cow pasture fountains or mysterious pipes protruding from a mountainside.Spain is a first world country with modern water purification for its populace.
No one has ever asked me for water. Seriously, good water is not like hard to find.Damien,
Your post reminded me of some advice a veteran Camino hiker gave me when I was training for my first camino. She said “always take two bottles of water; 32 oz carried in the backpack rear pocket, and a smaller bottle 16-20 oz carried in a bottle holder in the front. Only drink from the water bottle in the front. That way when you encounter a pilgrim looking for water, you can safely share from the large bottle.
I took her advice; and people I met alone the way were grateful.
Genius.Drinking water which might not be safe for a non-local, to avoid dehydration, might have the opposite effect … the quickest way way to dehydrate is to develop diarrhoea …
Genius.
"I started out drinking tap and fountain water"Doesn’t apply to random cow pasture fountains or mysterious pipes protruding from a mountainside.
Edit: in my opinion anything you have to press a button (or knob, whatever) to start the flow means the water is precious and has been treated. If it is just flowing free like, I wouldn’t trust it.
Edit 2: oh shit, remember to look for a sign that says don’t drink, because sometimes even those have buttons. (As was the case in the original story).
Sounds like we agree!"I started out drinking tap and fountain water"
That was the comment I was referring to in my comment. Tap water would obviously be from typical albergue sinks and such, which is treated water from the local sources just as in any other modern country. The fountains on the Frances (which is the route being discussed in that comment) aren't pipes protruding from the side of hills, etc and I have seen those on the Frances and elsewhere and are not actually fountains but are drain pipes. Diverted water from rain and snow melt. Nothing mysterious. Flood control of sorts. Drinking out of those without first treating the water would not be wise. Be no different that drinking out of a ditch next to the road or a stream or river and to drink it would fall into the category of making walking the Camino more hazardous than it has to be. To work really hard at getting oneself hurt. Like the foolish that try to walk over the Pyrenees in the middle of snowstorms.
I never saw any actual fountains in cattle pastures on the Frances. One does see quite a few troughs and the like for livestock which quite often have a water source to them and a float setup for refill. The water the livestock drinks may or may not be treated. Any water source for those troughs should probably considered non-potable.
View attachment 123461View attachment 123462
These are the typical free flowing, sometimes unmarked fountains (probably from an underground aquifer) in places along the Frances. Is the water potable or not? I do not know. I never drank from them because there was actual local tap water nearby (as is on the entire Frances). I have used them to cool off on hot days. Splash the cold water on my face and head. Wet down my cap and put it back on. I would guess though that over the decades those free flowing fountains in the photos have been there, there have been a lot of locals that drank from them with no ill effects.
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